Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
DISPENSER FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS USABLE WITH ONE HAND
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispenser for liquid
containers usable with one hand, and more particularly to a
dispenser for liquid containers which includes a depressing
member provided with an upper surface having an oval concave
shape, and an extension member coupled at one end thereof to
the outlet of a dispensing nozzle member, the extension member
extending upwardly from one end thereof to have an upwardly
curved arc shape having a desired radius of curvature in such
a fashion that the other end thereof faces the upper surface
of the depressing member while being vertically spaced from
the upper surface of the depressing member, thereby allowing
the user to manipulate the dispenser using one hand so as to
dispense a liquid material contained in the container.
Description of the Prior Art
Generally, containers for liquid soap or other liquid
materials consist of a container body having a certain volume
and a certain shape to receive a certain quantity of a liquid
material therein, and a cap for closing a top opening of the
container body. Where the user desires to use the liquid
material contained in the container, he separates the cap from
-1-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
the container body to open the top opening of the container
body, and then pours the liquid material from the container
onto the palm of one hand. Thereafter, the user closes the
top opening of the container body by coupling the cap to the
container body in order to prevent the liquid material from
being leaked from the container body. However, such
containers are problematic in that it is very troublesome to
use them because several hand maneuvers are required.
In order to solve such a problem, dispensers have
recently been proposed which are configured to dispense a
liquid material contained in a container by a pumping effect
generated by a simple depressing manipulation of the user, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a dispenser 10 is
illustrated. The dispenser 10 includes a container 20
contained with a certain quantity of a liquid material such as
liquid soap and provided at an opened upper end thereof with
a coupling portion 22, a cap 30 threadedly coupled to the
coupling portion 22 of the container 20 and centrally provided
with a through hole 32, and a pumping unit 40 fitted in the
through hole 32 of the cap 30 and adapted to outwardly pump
the liquid material from the container 20.
The pumping unit 40 includes a cylindrical upper body 42
rotatably fitted in the through hole 32 of the cap 30, and a
pipe-shaped lower body 44 fitted around the upper body 42 in
the interior of the container 20. A pipe-shaped feeding
-2-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
member 46 is fitted in the upper body 42 in such a fashion
that it extends downwardly into the interior of the lower body
44 at its lower end while being outwardly protruded from the
upper body 42 at its upper end. A depressing member 48 is
coupled to the upper end of the feeding member 46 in such a
fashion that it communicates with the feeding member 46. The
depressing member 48 is provided at one side portion thereof
with a dispensing nozzle member 48a. A pad 50 is fitted
around the lower end of the feeding member 46 in the interior
of the lower body 44. A pad fixing member 52 is fitted in the
lower end of the pad 50 in such a fashion that its upper end
is inserted into the interior of the feed member 46. The
pumping unit 40 also includes a compression coil spring 54
installed in the lower body 44 and adapted to apply an upward
spring force to the pad fixing member 52, and a ball 56 seated
on a hole formed at the lower end of the lower body 44 and
adapted to selectively close the hole.
When the user depresses the upper surface of the
depressing member 48 in a state in which the pumping unit 40
is coupled to the container 20, the feeding member 46 coupled
to the depressing member 48 moves downwardly. By the downward
movement of the feeding member 46, the pad 50 moves downwardly
while being in contact with the inner circumferential surface
of the lower body 44. As a result, the compression coil
spring 56 is downwardly compressed while applying a downward
spring force to the ball 56, thereby causing the ball 56 to
-3-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
close the hole formed at the lower end of the lower body 44.
At this time, the liquid material present in the interior of
the lower body 44 is introduced into the feeding member 46
between the pad 50 and pad fixing member 52 by virtue of a
compressive force applied thereto by the pad 50. Thus, the
liquid material is pumped to the dispensing nozzle member 48a
of the depressing member 48.
When the external force applied to the depressing member
48 is released in the above state, the compression coil spring
54 is upwardly extended while applying an upward spring force
to the pad fixing member 52. As a result, the pad 50 moves
upwardly while being in contact with the inner circumferential
surface of the lower body 44. This movement generates a
suction force in the interior of the lower body 44, thereby
causing the liquid material contained in the container 20 to
be sucked into the interior of the lower body 44 through the
lower hole of the lower body 44.
Thus, a desired quantity of liquid material can be
dispensed from the container 20 through the dispensing nozzle
member 48a as the user repeatedly depresses the depressing
member 48 of the dispenser 10 by one hand. The user receives
the dispensed liquid material onto the other hand to use the
liquid material.
However, such a dispenser having the above mentioned
construction is inconvenient in use because its dispensing
nozzle member is laterally protruded from the depressing
-4-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
member, thereby forcing the user to use both hands in such a
fashion that he depresses the depressing member by one hand
while receiving the dispensed liquid material onto the other
hand. Furthermore, it is impossible for disabled persons, who
may have the use of only one hand, to use the above mentioned
dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
the above mentioned problems, and an object of the invention
is to provide a dispenser for liquid containers which has a
configuration allowing both the operation of depressing a
depressing member to pump a liquid material from a container
and the operation of receiving the pumped liquid material to
be achieved by one hand of the user.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is
accomplished by providing a dispenser for a liquid container
usable with one hand comprising a cap adapted to close a top
opening of a container, to which the dispenser is applied, and
a pumping unit mounted to the cap and provided with a
depressing member and a dispensing nozzle member formed at the
depressing member, the pumping unit being configured in such
a fashion that when the depressing member is depressed, a
sucking force is generated in the pumping unit, thereby
sucking a liquid material from the container and dispensing
-5-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
the sucked liquid material through the dispensing nozzle
member, further comprising: a depressing surface provided at
an upper surface of the depressing member, the depressing
surface having an oval concave shape; and an extension member
coupled at one end thereof to an outlet of the dispensing
nozzle member, the extension member extending upwardly from
one end thereof to have an upwardly curved arc shape having a
desired radius of curvature in such a fashion that the other
end thereof faces the upper surface of the depressing member
while being vertically spaced from the upper surface of the
depressing member, whereby the liquid material sucked by a
depressing force applied to the depressing member is
downwardly discharged through the extension member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and aspects of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of embodiments with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
dispenser for liquid containers;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an operating
condition of the conventional dispenser;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dispenser for
liquid containers which has a configuration allowing the
dispenser to be used by one hand of the user in accordance
-6-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an operating
condition of the dispenser according to the embodiment of the
present invention; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a dispenser for
liquid containers which has a configuration allowing the
dispenser to be used by one hand of the user in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dispenser for
liquid containers which has a configuration allowing the
dispenser to be used by one hand of the user in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a
sectional view illustrating an operating condition of the
dispenser according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the dispenser, which is
denoted by the reference numeral 100, includes a cap 110
adapted to close the top opening of a container (not shown) to
which the dispenser 100 is applied. The dispenser 100 also
includes a pumping unit 130 mounted to the cap 110 and
provided with a depressing member 120 and a dispensing nozzle
member 122 formed at the depressing member 120. The pumping
unit 130 is configured in such a fashion that when the
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
depressing member 120 is depressed, a sucking force is
generated in the pumping unit 130, thereby sucking a liquid
material from the container and dispensing the sucked liquid
material through the dispensing nozzle member 122. Such a
configuration is similar to those of conventional dispensers.
In accordance with the present invention, the depressing
member 120 is provided at its upper surface with a depressing
surface 120a having an oval concave shape. An extension
member 140 is coupled at one end thereof, namely, an inlet
thereof, to an outlet of the dispensing nozzle member 122. In
the illustrated case, the extension member 140 is integral
with the dispensing nozzle member 122. The extension member
140 extends upwardly from its one end to have an upwardly
curved arc shape having a desired radius of curvature in such
a fashion that the other end thereof, namely, an outlet
thereof, faces the upper surface of the depressing member 120
while being spaced from the upper surface of the depressing
member 120.
Preferably, the extension member 140 has a semicircular
shape having a desired radius of curvature in such a fashion
that the outlet thereof is arranged above the central portion
of the depressing member 120 while defining a dispensing
direction downwardly directed at an angle of about 15° with
respect to a horizontal line. Of course, the dispensing angle
of the extension member 140 is not limited to the above angle.
For the extension member 140, various dispensing angles may be
_g_
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
used. Also, the configuration for pumping the liquid material
contained in the container is not limited to the configuration
as illustrated. In accordance with the present invention, a
variety of pumping configurations may be used within the scope
of the present invention.
Preferably, the space between the outlet of the extension
member 140 and the upper surface of the depressing member 120
has a distance allowing the left or right hand of an adult,
who has an average hand size, to freely access the space.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a dispenser for
liquid containers which has a configuration allowing the
dispenser to be used by one hand of the user in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention. In
accordance with this embodiment, the extension member 140 is
configured in such a fashion that it is separable from the
dispensing nozzle member 122. That is, an annular engagement
protrusion 124 is formed on the outer circumferential surface
of the outlet portion of the dispensing nozzle member 122
whereas an annular engagement groove 142, which is engagable
with the annular engagement protrusion 124, is formed on the
inner circumferential surface of the inlet portion of the
extension member 140. Thus, the extension member 140 is
rotatably coupled to the dispensing nozzle member 122.
The configuration for rotatably and separably coupling
the extension member 140 to the dispensing nozzle member 122
is not limited to the illustrated configuration. Various
-9-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
configurations may be applied within the scope of the present
invention.
Now, the operation and effect of the dispenser for liquid
containers, which has the above mentioned configuration
according to the present invention, will be described.
Where the user desires to use the dispenser 100 provided
at the depressing member 120 with the extension member 140, he
first inserts one hand into the space defined between the
upper surface of the depressing member 120 and the outlet of
the extension member 140 in such a fashion that the palm of
the hand faces the outlet of the extension member 140.
Thereafter, the user downwardly depresses the depressing
member 120 in a state in which the back of the hand is in
contact with the depressing surface 120a of the depressing
member 120. As a result, the liquid material contained in the
container is pumped by the pumping unit 130. The pumped
liquid material flows along the extension member 140 and is
then discharged from the extension member 140 onto the palm of
the hand depressing the depressing member 120. Thus, the
discharged liquid material is collected onto the hand of the
user.
In this state, the user retracts the hand from the space
between the depressing surface 120a of the depressing member
120 and the extension member 140, so that he can use the
liquid material collected onto the hand.
Thus, the user can conduct both the operation of
-10-
CA 02266926 1999-03-24
depressing the depressing member to pump the liquid material
from the container and the operation of receiving the pumped
liquid material by one hand.
Since the extension member 140 may have a separable and
rotatable construction, it can contribute to a convenient
storage or transportation of the dispenser when it is in a
downwardly inverted state. The extension member 140 can also
be removed from the dispenser when it is unnecessary. In this
case, the dispensing nozzle member 122 serves to directly
dispense the liquid material.
As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides a dispenser for liquid containers which has
a configuration allowing both the operation of depressing a
depressing member to pump a liquid material from a container
and the operation of receiving the pumped liquid material to
be achieved by one hand of the user. Accordingly, the
dispenser provides convenience in the use of the dispenser.
In particular, the dispenser of the present invention is very
useful for disabled persons who may not be able to use one
hand.
Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
-11-
